Translated from Latin it means "show me the body. Habeas Corpus, in the Federal Court, is a petition that claims that you are being detained against your US constitutional rights.A writ of habeas corpus is a powerful legal tool that allows individuals to challenge a criminal conviction or sentence. Exploring Habeas Corpus: Protecting Individual Rights. The required application for a person currently incarcerated in TDCJ to file for a writ of habeas corpus under Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, Article 11.07. It tests the legality of a detention or a restraint and the goal is to use it really almost i guess it's an emergency basis. A Writ of Habeas Corpus is a civil proceeding that is available in both State and Federal Court to challenge the legality of imprisonment. A Writ of Habeas Corpus is a civil proceeding that is available in both State and Federal Court to challenge the legality of imprisonment. Latin, meaning "you have the body. Latin for "that you have the body.